Borrowing Trouble

(Proverbs 28:10 KJV)  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

There is no clear statement here that the person doing the leading is automatically “evil” (7451b).  The results of their action clearly are but it does not say they are themselves.  Let’s look at the context to get a feel.  That does not always work in Proverbs but bear with me.

In verse 8 we see reference to usury and unjust gain.  One of the major traps of life all through history has been debt.  It was one of the three ways that people could end up being sold into slavery.  Debt is a destroyer.  In our modern times where everything is based on debt and our credit score it gets even worse.  We not only have all the shiny toys, now we can buy them.  In ancient times people went into debt from desperation.  Now we go into debt because we want more than we can pay for now and are not willing to wait for satisfaction.  Credit cards and “needs” destroy individuals and families.  It is destroying our country.

How does this come back to bite the lender?  When you get an entire culture living beyond its means then eventually things fall apart.  Think of Paris during the French Revolution or Russia in 1917.  To be wealthy was to be a target.  It could happen here.

So?  When someone comes to you for a loan think twice before you say “yes”.  Maybe think three times.  Do they really need it?  Are you contributing to their destruction?  Are you laying the groundwork for hostility toward yourself?